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Busy start to season
TJF
Cricket.
BUSY START TO NEW CRICKET SEASON.
The 2007 cricket season opened over the Easter week with no less than three touring sides from the United Kingdom visiting the Rock. The Sussex “over 40’s” and Sydenhurst Ramblers (on their third tour to our shores) proved no match for the local selections, but Eastbourne College provided sterner opposition and won both their matches. Three local players, Ian Farrell, Mark Bacarese and Sam Russell, achieved centuries.
Five matches in as many days.
Proceedings opened on Thursday 5th. April at the Europa Oval, now boasting a brand new mat and refurbished dressing rooms, with a match between the Sussex “over 40’s” and a GCA XI. The visitors won the toss, opted to occupy the crease first and lost their first three batmen with only 63 runs on the board. Peter Crees and Graham Corke then staged a mini revival with a fourth wicket stand of 73 before the latter was stumped by John Hazell off the bowling of Iain Latin for 33. Crees went the same way seven runs later when four short of his half century, after which there was little resistance from the middle and lower order, the side being dismissed for 168 in 39.5 overs. For the local selection, George Shacaluga returned figures of 3/14, Latin took 2/23 and Vivek Sadhwani 2/26.
The GCA XI lost two wickets cheaply before John Hazell and Robbie Skinner put together a partnership of 78, the former reaching his half century off just 35 balls. His departure when on 74 heralded a batting collapse, four wickets tumbling for the addition of only thirteen runs. This brought Iain Latin to the crease and any fears of a local defeat were soon dispelled as he struck 31 runs off 13 balls to bring home victory with 15.5 overs to spare. Skinner ended undefeated on 25.
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The following day, the two visiting sides confronted each other in what turned out to be a close and exciting contest. Sydenhurst Ramblers batted first and amassed a total of 233/7 off their allotted forty overs, with J Hamilton scoring 88 and D Simcock 62. Sussex over 40’s responded with a total of 233/6, the match thus ending in a tie. For them, B Peay scored 69 and D Grimes 53.
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On the Saturday it was the turn of Sydenhurst Ramblers to take on a GCA XI. The locals batted first and were given a solid start by Ian Farrell and Kieron Ferrary who put on 44 in the opening seven overs. When Ferrary fell, quickly followed by John Hazell, Kabir Mirpuri kept Farrell company as a further 138 runs were added, in the process of which Farrell reached his century. He finally departed for 129 whilst Mirpuri scored 60 in a final total of 287/6.
The Ramblers made a terrible start to their reply, losing two wickets with just eight runs on the board. A Lemmey and J Ashworth then staged a recovery, putting on 85 runs before the former was stumped by Richard Buzaglo off the bowling of Iain Latin and Ashworth (71) followed four runs later, another victim of Latin’ spin. Despite a gallant 46 from J Hamilton, the Ramblers were never in the hunt and eventually succumbed for 172 all out in 37 overs. Sam Russell took 4/28 and Latin 4/23 for the local selection.
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Sunday saw the Sussex over forties return to the fray for a match against a GCA Chairman’s XI. The Chairman’s XI batted first and after the loss of an early wicket, Mark Bacarese and Sam Russell proceeded to flay the bowling, putting on 238 runs, both batsmen reaching three figures. Russell was the first to go, caught behind for 121 and Bacarese followed him ten runs later for 137. Wickets fell cheaply after that but the locals still managed to post a total of 303/6 at the end of their allotted overs.
The men from Sussex began badly, losing two wickets with only 38 runs on the board and they never really recovered from that. Only opener Andy Meade with 43 made a worthwhile contribution as the side ended on 142/9 to give the Chairman’s XI victory by the substantial margin of 161 runs. The wickets were shared evenly by the bowlers, with Kabir Mirpuri leading the way with figures of 3/17.
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Easter Monday saw the Sydenhurst Ramblers taking on a GCA Chairman’s XI. Batting first they could only put together a total of 152/8 in their forty overs, Charlie Harrison and Kieron Ferrary claiming three wickets apiece. A second wicket partnership of 84 between Kabir Mirpuri [33] and George Shacaluga [50] set the locals well on their way and victory was achieved for the loss of six wickets and plenty of overs to spare.
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After three days rest local cricketers were again in action, this time against Eastbourne College, who turned out to be much stiffer opposition. The opening match, on the 12th. April, saw the College bat first, Angus Stewart and Max Finzel giving them a good start with an opening partnership of 68 in fifteen overs. Kabir Mirpuri then struck twice to dismiss Stewart and Charlie Hinchcliffe, but Ollie Priestman then kept Finzel company whilst a further 58 runs accrued. Finzel finally fell, caught by Rudi Phillips off the bowling of Adam Orfila for 69, but Priestman went on to his half century before falling to the spin of Iain Latin. Latin then came into his own with a further three wickets to peg the College boys back to 218 all out in the allotted forty five overs, Latin returning figures of 4/27.
An asking rate of below five an over should not have been beyond the local selection but any thoughts of victory were soon dispelled as wickets tumbled at regular intervals to send the total plummeting to 99/7, and only a rearguard action from Mirpuri (45) saved his side from a humiliating defeat, the final total being 167 off 36 overs. R Cherrill was the visitors’ most successful bowler with figures of 3/22.
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The following day a GCA Chairman’s XI, largely composed of young cricketers, took the field against Eastbourne College. The College batted first and lost the wicket of Angus Stewart with the very first ball of the innings, Steven Gonzalez taking a fine catch in the slips off the bowling of Shaun Ainsworth. Charlie Hinchcliffe and Ollie Smith then featured in a second wicket stand of 104 before Robbie Skinner accounted for the latter who was then six runs short of his half century. The visitors then lost three quick wickets, all run out, including that of Hinchcliffe who had reached 71, but any hopes the locals might have had of dismissing the opposition cheaply were dispelled by a whirlwind innings of 62 off 33 balls by Max Finzel, which enabled his side to reach the respectable total of 250.
The Chairman’s XI made a horrendous start to their innings, losing their first seven wickets with only fifteen runs on the board and only a fighting innings of 76 from Kabir Mirpuri and a gutsy 21 from Adam Orfila enabled the total to reach some level of respectability on 165.
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And so ended seven days of eventful cricket! The GCA will now be gearing itself for the start of the domestic season in early May as well as looking forward to no less than three European Championships. From the 23rd to the 27th. July, Gibraltar’s under nineteens will be in Jersey to defend the Division Two title which they won in Scotland two years ago. From the 13th. to the 16th. August, the under twenty threes will be in Guernsey to participate in the ECC’s first tournament at this level, and the under fifteens will be travelling to La Manga, Spain towards the end of August. All in all, a busy time ahead for Gibraltar’s cricketers!
-TJF
© Gibraltar Cricket Association
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